ALGEBRA

Module 5

The linear function

Grades 8 and 9

TEACHER DOCUMENT

MALATI staff involved in developing these materials:

Marlene Sasman
Rolene Liebenberg
Alwyn Olivier
Liora Linchevski
Richard Bingo Lukhele
Jozua Lambrechts

COPYRIGHT
All the materials developed by MALATI are in the public domain. They may be freely used and adapted, with
acknowledgement to MALATI and the Open Society Foundation for South Africa.

December 1999
OVERVIEW OF MODULE 5

In this Module learners explore and analyse the characteristics of the linear function
y = ax + b and the effect of the parameters a and b on the behaviour of the function
and on the form of the graph of the function. Learners will reflect on functions that
they have encountered in the previous modules.

This Module has been designed to use the (TI-82) graphing calculator. We enclose a
useful manual with key procedures for the TI-82 graphing calculator.
However, if learners have access to a computer teachers may use
the Graphmatica computer graphing program as an alternative. You can
install Graphmatica from our software page. Here are some guidelines and
activities using Graphmatica as a teaching aid (it is a PDF file).
the enclosed polynomial graphing java applet as an alternative. You can
install the graphing applet from our software page.
a graphing applet on the world-wide web as alternative, for example Function
Grapher at http://147.4.150.5/~matsrc/Graf/Graf.html
We also include some Excel activities that teachers may use as optional extra
activities.
Teachers should also note that they can install Graph Paper Printer from our software
page so that learners can draw some point-by-point graphs on graph paper.

What is important about the dynamic nature of the variable is not only the change in
the values of variables but the effects of those changes on the value of other
(dependent) variables. Families of functions like the linear, quadratic, exponential,
etc. are studied because they depict different kinds of ways variables effect each
other, and they are reasonable models for relationships among real world quantities.

Rather than allowing learners to roam freely in problem solving explorations, the
suggested sequence of activities intends to enhance learners development of the
particular concepts.

Learners are not expected to master each concept and procedure when they first
encounter it , but rather to develop their mathematical understandings continually.
The activities aim to clearly expose the relationship between a linear graph and its
expression.

At the end of this module the learners should be able to draw the graph of a linear
function from the algebraic expression without the table as an intermediary step and
also be able to construct the algebraic expression from the graph.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 1

ACTIVITY 1 CLASSIFYING FUNCTIONS BY THEIR GRAPHS

One by one, enter each of the algebraic expressions given below into the graphing
calculator and look at the shape of each graph. Decide whether the graph is a
straight line or some other curve. (Remember that you are only looking at a part of
the graph). Then rewrite the algebraic expression in the correct column in the table.

(a) 10 x 2 (b) 5 x 15 (c) x (d) x 3

x2 x
(e) 4x 2 (f) (g) (h) 6 x
5 5
(i) ( x + 6) 2 (j) 15 (k) x 2 + 18 (l) 2 x x 2

(m) 50 5 x (n) 10x (o) x 2 (p) x 3 + 9 x

(q) 20 (r) x + 8 (s) 10 x (t) 3 x + 18
(u) 3x 2 + 5 (v) 4 x 8 (w) x 4 5 (x) x 2 5
5
(y)
x

Makes a straight line Makes another curve

Look at the expressions that you have put in the column makes a straight line.
The functions that they represent are called linear functions.

What do these expressions have in common?

Try to create three expressions that make straight lines.

Check your suggestions with the help of the graphing calculator.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 2

Teacher Note: Activities 1 and 2

The main purpose of Activities 1 and 2 is to categorize functions into linear and non-
linear functions by the shape of their graphs and by noting differences in their
expressions.

In Activity 1 the learners should enter the expressions one by one into the graphing
calculator and classify the functions according to the shape of the graph. They need
to be reminded that the graph that they see is only a portion of the function and that
they may change the window setting to see more of the function.

Teachers are reminded that some children have a concept image of straight lines as
only those that are horizontal or vertical, e.g. they see the following as straight lines

Yet, they do not see the following as a straight line:

In the whole class discussion teachers could ask the children why do they think we
call these functions linear (LINEar).

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 3

ACTIVITY 2 CLASSIFYING FUNCTIONS BY THEIR EXPRESSIONS

1. Look carefully at the following expressions for functions. Just by looking at the
expression, try to decide whether their graph will be a straight line (linear) or
some other curve. Write the expression in the column of the table that you think
corresponds to the shape of the function.

(a) 3 x 7

(b) 3x 2 7

(c) 5x 2

(d) 100 + 2 x

(e) 55 x

(f) 10 x 3

(g) 7 x 2 + 4 x

(h) 3 x 7

Makes a straight line Makes another curve

2. Write down what you were looking for when you made your decisions.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 4

ACTIVITY 3

1. Mr Bean buys a plant at the nursery when it is 8 cm high. He measures the height of
the plant at the end of every week and finds that it grows at a rate of 2 cm per week.

(a) Complete the table showing the growth of the plant over time if the plant
continues to grow at the same rate.

Week number Height of plant (in cm)

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

(b) Write down the algebraic rule that you used to calculate the height of the plant.

(c) Represent the information from the table on the Cartesian plane.

(d) Can the points that you plotted be joined? Explain.

(e) Can the graph be extended farther to the right? Explain.

(f) Can the graph be extended farther to the left? Explain.

(g) If you think that the points can be joined, join them.

2. Sam buys a plant at the nursery when it is 12 cm high. He measures the height of
the plant at the end of every week and finds that it also grows at a rate of 2 cm
per week.

(a) Make a table to show the growth of Sams plant.

(b) Write a formula to calculate the height of the plant.

(c) Draw a graph to show the height of Sam's plant on the same Cartesian plane
as the graph of Mr Beans plant.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 5

3. Carla bought plant seeds that must be planted and completely covered with soil.
She also measured it every week and observed that it grew 2 cm per week.

(a) Make a table to show the height of Carlas plant over time.

(b) Write a formula to calculate the height of the plant.

(c) Draw a graph to show the height of Carla's plant on the same Cartesian plane
as the graph of Mr Bean and Sams plants.

4. Write down the height of Mr Bean, Sam and Carlas plants at zero weeks.

5. Study the three graphs, their tables and formulae.

Write down what is the same and what is different.

The formula or algebraic rule for a linear function is often written as:

f ( x ) = ax + b or y = ax + b or y = mx + c

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 6

ACTIVITY 4

Consider the following linear functions:

y = 2x + 7
1
y = x3
2
4
y = x + 2,5
3
y = 2 x 1,5
3
y = 4 x
2
y = 5 + 3 x

Draw each of the above functions on the graphing calculator and say where each
graph crosses the vertical axis.

Try to formulate a rule about the point where a linear graph crosses the vertical axes.

Check your rule with some examples you have made.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 7

Teacher Note: Activities 4, 5, 6 and 7

The main aim of Activities 4, 5, 6 and 7 is to analyse the characteristics of a linear

function and the effect of the parameters on the behaviour of the linear function
represented by the algebraic formulae:

f ( x ) = ax + b
y = ax + b
y = mx + c
ax + by + c = 0

In the whole class discussion on the similarities and differences of the linear graphs,
the concept of slope will necessarily arise. The teacher needs to ensure that the term
slope is understood (i.e. steepness).

In their groups they should examine the effect on the expression if the slope is the
same and if it varies. They should then be able to identify which parameter effects
the slope of the linear graph.

Similarly, they should be able to identify which parameter effects the point where the
graph intersects the y-axis. In the discussion the teacher needs to point out that this
point is called the y intercept.

Activities 3 and 5 could be extended so that learners explore and are able to identify
a point on the line by its co-ordinates.

The understanding of the concepts domain, range, continuity which were dripped in
Module 3, could also be further developed in this Module when the following
questions in Activity 3 are discussed:

(h) Can the points that you plotted be joined? Explain.

(i) Can the graph be extended farther to the right? Explain.
(j) Can the graph be extended farther to the left? Explain.

Learners should be provided with more examples to consolidate the ideas in this
Module.

It might be a good idea to have a short assessment at this point to identify learners
needs and then to provide them with appropriate tasks to cater for their individual
needs.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 8

ACTIVITY 5

B A
E

Two motorists A and B each traveled at a constant speed. The distances (S km) they
covered after t hours are represented in the graphs above.

1. Use the graphs to make a table of time-distance values for each motorist.

2. What is the speed of motorist B between points

(a) C and D
(b) C and E
(c) D and E
Explain your answers. What do you notice?

3. What is the speed of motorist A?

4. Write an algebraic formula that represents the relationship between time and
distance for each motorist.

5. Which part of the algebraic formulae represents the speed of each motorist?

6. Explain how you can tell from the tables at which speed each motorist is driving.

7. Explain how you can tell from the graphs at which speed each motorist is driving.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 9

ACTIVITY 6

Beaker X Beaker A Beaker B

In order to calibrate the above beakers, it is necessary to know how the height of the
liquid depends on the volume in the beaker.

The sketch graphs below represent the height-volume relationship for each beaker
on the same system of axes.

In your group discuss which graph best represents the height-volume relationship for
each beaker. Explain your choice in each case.

Height f g h

Volume

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 10

ACTIVITY 7

Beaker X Beaker A Beaker B

Water drips simultaneously into the above beakers from three different taps which
deliver water at the same constant rate (millilitres per second).

On the same system of axes sketch graphs to show how the height of the water in
each beaker varies with time.

Height

Time (in minutes)

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 11

ACTIVITY 8 THE GRADIENT

1. Complete the table. What do you notice?

Difference between
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 consecutive output
values
2x

2x + 1
1
x2
2

x2
4
x

The amount by which the function value changes when the input variable is
increased by 1 is called the gradient of the function.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 12

2. On the graph paper below draw the graphs of
1 4
f ( x ) = 2 x , g ( x ) = 2 x + 1 , h( x ) = x 2 , p ( x) = x 2 and k ( x) =
2 x

What do you notice?

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 13

3. Some language about functions:
g is a linear function with gradient 2,5. When the value of the input variable is 4,
the value of g is 22,5.
What is the value of g when the input variable is 5?
What is the value of g when the input variable is 1?
What is the value of g when the input variable is 0?
What is the value of g when the input variable is 100?
What is the value of g when the input variable is 2,4?

Here is a shorter way to ask questions like those above:

The value of g when the input variable is 5 is indicated by the symbol g(5).
g(5) is read as "g of 5" or "the value of g at 5".
So instead of asking "What is the value of g when the input variable is 5?,
one
may simply ask "What is the value of g(5)?" or "Calculate g(5)".

4. If f ( x) = 4 x + 5 and h( x) = 4 x 2 + 5, find the value of :

(a) f ( 3 ) and h( 3 )

(b) f ( 2 ) and h( 2 )

(c) f ( 100 ) and h( 100 )

(d) h( 4 ) h( 0 )

f ( 7 ) f ( 2)
(e)
72

h( 2 ) h( 1 )
(f)
2 ( 1 )

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 14

5. Consider the graph of f ( x) = 2 x + 1 that you drew in question 2.

B C

The length of line-segment BC represents an increase in the input values x, from

x = 1 to x = 5 (5 1 = 4) while the length of CA represents a corresponding
increase in the output values [ f (5) f (1) = 11 3 = 8 ] .
CA f 5) f (1) 11 3 8
Thus: = = = =2
BC 5 1 4 4
(a) Use the graph and in a similar way calculate the following:
f (2) f (1)
(i)
2 1

f (5) f (2)
(ii)
52

f (0) f (2)
(iii)
0 (2)
What do you notice?
4
(b) Also do the calculations in (a) for the functions p ( x) = x 2 and k ( x) = .
x
What do you notice?

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 15

Teacher Notes: Activity 8

It is important that learners understand slope (gradient) not only from a graphical
perspective but also numerically (algebraically). The purpose of this activity is to
make a link between the graphic notion of gradient and the algebraic notion.

The graphing calculator can also be very useful in this regard, for example in
question 1 learners can easily compare the formula, the graph and the table
representations of the functions:
Using Y= Using GRAPH Using TABLE

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 16

ACTIVITY 9

1. p is a linear function with a gradient of 4.

Complete the following table of values of p.

Input variable 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 10
Value of p 21

2. The gradient of the non-linear function q is 4 when the input variable increases
from 2 to 3. When the input variable increases from 3 to 4, the gradient is 6,
and when the input variable increases from 4 to 5 the gradient is 8. When the
input variable increases further, the gradient itself continues to increase by 2 for
every increase of 1 in the value of the input variable. Complete the following
table of values of q.

Input variable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Value of q

3. Find the gradient of each of the linear functions represented in the tables, and
complete the tables:

Input variable 1 3 5 77 9 11 13 15
Value of g 5 7 9 11 13 15 17

Input variable 0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7

Value of g

Input variable 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8
Value of k 5 7 9 11 13 15 17

Input variable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Value of k

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 17

4. Here is a table of values of the function m:

Input variable 1 3 3,5 5 8 12 20 30

Value of m 5 11 12,5 17 26 38 62 92

(a) Is m a linear function?

(b) If it is a linear function, what is its gradient?

5. The area of a square can be calculated by multiplying the length of a side by

itself, i.e.
area = (length of side)2
Clearly, when the length of the side changes, the area changes too, as is clear
from the following table:

Length of side (in cm) 1 2 3 4 5 6

Area (in cm2) 1 4 9 16 25 36

The relationship between the area of a square and the length of a side is a
function.

We say: the area is a function of the side length.

(a) Is this a linear function?

(b) Describe the way in which the gradient of this function changes.
(c) Complete the following table:
Length of side (in cm) 1,5 2 2,5 3 3,5 4
Area (in cm2)

(d) Consider your table as well as the table given above and answer the
following questions:
Is it true to say that when the side length is increased from 2 to 3, the
gradient of the area function is 5?
What is the gradient of the area function when the side length increases from
2 to 2,5?
What is the gradient of the area function when the side length increases from
2,5 to 3?

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 18

Teacher Note: Activity 9

Learners are given more opportunities to explore and develop their understanding of
the concept of gradient numerically.

It is important that they understand the concept of gradient irrespective of whether

they are working with a graph, a table of values or a formula and that they are able to
make the necessary links between these different representations.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 19

 ACTIVITY 10

Express in words what information is given about the gradients of each of the
following situations.

Cost No. of
in words
Rand typed

Petrol (in litres) Time (in minutes)

Petrol
in
Distance
tank
(in metres)
(in litres)

Distance traveled (in km) Time (in sec)

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 20

ACTIVITY 11

A B

4
3

2 4

C D

1. Where does the graph cut the y-axis in each of the above graphs?

2. What is the gradient of each of the above graphs?

3. Write an algebraic formula for each of the above graphs.

Can you see the y-intercept and the gradient in the formula?

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 21

ACTIVITY 12

Lets consider f(x) = 2 x 1 and g(x) = x + 2 .

Calculate each of the following. Use the graphs to check your answer in each case.
What do you notice?

f (6) f (2) g (6) g (2)

= =
62 62
f (0) f (2) g (0) g (2)
= =
0 (2) 0 (2)
f (5) f (1) g (5) g (1)
= =
5 1 5 1
f (4) f (0) g (4) g (0)
= =
40 40
f (1) f (3) g (1) g (3)
= =
(1) 3 (1) 3

Formulate a rule to determine the gradient of a linear function.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 22

Teacher Note: Activity 12

The main purpose of this activity is to analyse the numerical calculations and to
establish an algebraic formula for calculating the gradient of a linear function.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 23

ACTIVITY 13
8
y
(a)
6

0 x
- 10 -5 0 5 10

-2

-4

-6

-8

8
(b) y

0 x
- 10 -5 0 5 10

-2

-4

-6

-8

What are the gradients of the lines in (a) and (b).

Try to formulate a rule about parallel lines.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 24

ACTIVITY 14

1. Write an algebraic expression for the graph above.

2. Write a story that would fit the graph above.

3. Draw the graph on your graphing calculator.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 25

 ACTIVITY 15

1. Write algebraic expressions for each of the following graphs and draw each graph
on your graphing calculator.
1 8
2 8
y y

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 x 0 x
- 10 -5 0 5 10 - 10 -5 0 5 10

-2 -2

-4 -4

-6 -6

-8 -8

3 8
4
y 8
y

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 x 0 x
- 10 -5 0 5 10 - 10 -5 0 5 10

-2 -2

-4 -4

-6 -6

-8 -8

5 8
6 8
y y

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 x 0 x
- 10 -5 0 5 10 - 10 -5 0 5 10

-2 -2

-4 -4

-6 -6

-8 -8

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 26

ACTIVITY 16

1. The following is Mr Tsabalas household electricity account for the month of April:

Newtown City Council

April
Electricity account
UNIT TARIFF AMOUNT*
Basic Fee 1 kwh R30,00 R30,00
Units used 700,00 kwh R0,20 R140,00
*VAT included Electricity Payable: R170,00

(a) In February the Mr Tsabalas used 572 kwh of electricity. What is the
amount payable?
(b) In August the Mr Tsabala used 987 kwh of electricity. What is the amount
payable?
(c) Write down a formula that you can use to calculate the amount payable for
any amount of electricity used per month.
(d) Draw a graph to illustrate the information in (c).

2. The municipality offers households an alternative scheme to obtain electricity.

They offer to install metering devices in houses. Householders then have to
buy a certain amount of electricity beforehand. The tariff for this system is 25
cents per kwh for the first 500 kwh and 20 cents per kwh for each additional kwh.
(a) How much would it cost if a household with a meter uses 700 kwh?
(b) Write down a formula that you can use to calculate the cost for any
amount of electricity used per month with the metering system.
(c) Draw a graph illustrating the information in 2(b) on the same system of
axes as 1(d).
(d) Which system do you prefer? Give reasons for your answer.

3. In some communities people used to pay a flat rate, but this has mostly been
changed to a metered rate. A flat rate means that a person pays the same
amount every month, no matter how much electricity is used.
(a) John pays a flat rate of R50 per month to the city council for electricity. David
pays the metered rate of R20 per month for the service plus R1,25 per kwh.
Complete the table to show what they pay for different usages per month.
Units used (kwh) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
John (flat rate)
David (metered rate)
(b) Draw a graph illustrating John and David's electricity bill for different
amounts of electricity used.
(c) Which system (model) do you prefer? Is it fair? Discuss!

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 27

Teacher Note: Activities 16, 17 and 18

Activities 16, 17 and 18 give learners opportunities to explore relationships in real-life

that could be represented by a linear model.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 28

ACTIVITY 17

Amanda has started a biscuit bakery. She sells her biscuits in boxes. She has
employed you to calculate the costs for the various orders. Amanda charges R8,00
per box plus an administration fee of R15,00 per order.

1. How much would you charge for an order of 3 boxes? 10 boxes? 100 boxes?
Write a sentence describing how you found these answers.

2. How many boxes could a customer purchase with R111? R500? R2000? Write a
sentence describing how you found these answers.

3. A competitor advertises that they will sell the same boxes of biscuits for R5,50
per box plus an administration fee of R49,95 per order. When Amanda sees this
advertisement she tells you to figure out how this might affect her business.

In order to give Amanda good answer, clearly identify the problem situation,
produce tables of values, graphs and algebraic rules.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 29

ACTIVITY 18 (Enrichment)

Blood carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. The blood is pumped
through the body by the heart. If your heart beats faster the blood circulates around
the body and back to the lungs more quickly and thus more oxygen reaches your muscles
so they can work harder. We measure this heart rate in beats per minute (bpm).

1. Find your heart rate by placing your figures on your wrist and feeling the beat.
Count how many times your heart beats in 1 minute. Record the result.

2. Now run energetically on the spot for 2 minutes and measure your heart rate
again. What do you notice.

3. Run for another minute and measure you heart rate again. Is there any change?

Good sports people have to train hard so that their hearts get used to pumping lots
of blood around their bodies. However they must be careful that they don't strain
their hearts as this can lead to a heart attack. Below is a graph that sports people
use to determine how hard they are exercising by measuring their heart rate. The
line shows what 60% of their maximum heart rate is.

140

130
60%

120
Heart rate (bpm)

110

100

96

90

80
20 30 40 50 60
Age (years)

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 30

4. As you get older what happens to your heart rate?

5. Calculate the maximum heart rate of a 20 year old.

6. If an athlete exercises at 60% of his maximum heart rate, his heart rate is
115 bpm, estimate the age of the athlete.

7. Estimate what 60% of your maximum heart rate should be. Explain how you
calculated this.

8. When your grandfather is 80 years old what will 60% of his maximum heart rate
be?

9. Elana Meyer is 30 years old, what is 60% of her maximum

heart rate? During a race her heart rate goes to 95% of
This was in 1997!
her maximum heart rate, how many times per minute
will her heart beat? What about now?

10. Paul Adams is 20 years old. When he is bowling in a cricket match his heart rate
is 80% of his maximum heart rate, what will his heart rate be in beats per
minute?

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 31

ACTIVITY 19

Make each of the designs below in your calculator window.

In each case describe the pattern in words and explain to others exactly how you
designed the pattern (write down the functions you used).

Note:
To begin, set the WINDOW on your TI-82 graphing
calculator as shown.

Also clear all functions in Y=

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 32

Teacher Note: Activity 19

Activity 19 has been designed for use with the graphing calculator.
Its purpose is to reinforce learners' understanding of the connection between the
graph of a linear function, and the parameters m and b in the formula y = mx + c.
Learners are given the set of designs, and they must create them on their calculator.
They should do this by entering functions of the form y = mx + c.

Learners need not solve the problems in any particular order. As they work on one
figure, they may accidentally create another one. It is important that learners keep
records of how each image was achieved, and that there be some small-group
and/or whole-class discussion of these records. Without such discussions, learners
may get through the activity, and not learn all they can from it, even if it appears to
"go well". Some of the questions that you may ask during these discussions are:
! How do you make lines steeper? less steep?
! How do you make lines that go "uphill"? "downhill"?
! How do you make lines horizontal? vertical?
! How do you make parallel lines?
! How do you make a parallel to an uphill line to the left of the original? to the right?
! How do you make a parallel to a downhill line higher up? lower down?

Note also that learners are asked to graph vertical lines. It is of course not possible
to do it using the "y=" format. (It can be done with the Draw Vertical feature.)

This activity is an example of an approach that offers both access and depth in the
same lesson. Access, because no one is frozen out of the activity: all learners can
understand the question, get started, and find a challenge to stretch their own
understanding. Depth because there are many ways to increase the mathematical
payoff and to keep even the strongest learners challenged.

Whether a given design is reproduced accurately is largely a matter of opinion. The

teacher may ask the learners to capture the general look of a given figure, or for a
nearly-exact replica. The former can be done by trial and error, and helps learners
develop a feel for the effect of m and b in a general sort of way.

The activity can easily be extended. For example, learners can create their own
designs, which can be printed or shown on the overhead for others to emulate.
Note: There is a similar activity in Module 7 on quadratic functions called Graph Art.

Source:
http://www.picciotto.org/math-ed/calculator/make-these/

Note: See the teacher notes in Module 7 on handling families of functions and
symmetry on the T1-82 graphing calculator.

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 33

ACTIVITY 20 Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur starts a new business.

He produces gadgets at a cost of Y1 = 4x + 200 rands and then sells it at Y2 = 5x

rands, where x is the number of gadgets.

Note: He assumes that he can sell all the gadgets he produces.

Profit = Selling price Production cost

1. Calculate his profit for different numbers of gadgets.

2. Draw graphs of the cost-function Y1 and the selling price-function Y2 on the same
system of axes.

3. How many gadgets must he produce and sell to make a profit?

Can you show this on the graphs?

4. Show how he can increase his profit by reducing his production costs and/or
increasing his selling price.

Challenge:

Draw the graph for the profit-function by entering Y3 = Y2 Y1.

Can you deduce the same information as above from this graph?

Note: to enter Y2 and Y1 directly into the equation for Y3 you must press
2nd Y-VARS , choose FUNCTION and then select the appropriate function:

Can you write down a formula (in simplest form) for Y3 using x?
How can you check that you are right?

MALATI algebra materials: module 5 34

Teacher Note: Activities 19 and 20

Activities 19 and 20 have been designed for use with the graphing calculator.
They facilitate explorations of linear functions by providing learners with continual
access to numerical, graphical and symbolic representations of functions.

Teachers could use these activities as projects or as further development and

enrichment.

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MALATI algebra materials: module 5 35